Celebrity Brunch and Lunch for JOPLIN! Let Me Serve YOU! :)

<a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/crabby_brunch.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/12Blog/crabby_brunch.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 266px;" /></a><br />Hey everybody!<br /><br />Tomorrow I have the unique opportunity to be a celebrity host for the Celebrity Brunch and Lunch at Crabby's in Rogers to benefit the Joplin High School prom. I'll be there from approximately 11am to 2pm doing celebrity-hosty-type things (obviously, I know what I'm doing - haha!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO COME!!<br />Sunday, March 11 (yes, tomorrow)<br />Crabby's in Rogers<br />11am-2pm!</span><br /><br />It's for a great cause, and it's yummy food! C'mon out and see me... I'll try not to spill your drinks all over you and your friends!<br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />Dale

giving back Joplin Celebrity Brunch and Lunch for JOPLIN! Let Me Serve YOU! :)

Hey everybody! Tomorrow I have the unique opportunity to be a celebrity host for the Celebrity Brunch and Lunch at Crabby's in Rogers to...

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Joplin Prom Makeover!

Hey everybody!<br /><br />Today I finally get to share a secret that I've been keeping for months: We are helping make over the Joplin High School prom and are giving my alma mater their DREAM PROM - woop woop!! We got to ambush the seniors today at the high school (at the Joplin Mall); it was super fun addressing the students (and the teachers I used to work alongside)!<br /><br />Even cooler, Katy Perry (yep... THAT KATY PERRY!) recorded a video for the seniors announcing the ambush! <br /><br />Here's a <a href="http://www.koamtv.com/category/164379/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6751492">Joplin news station's story</a> on the ambush<br /><br /><script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.koamtv.com/global/video/videoplayer.js?rnd=361580;hostDomain=www.koamtv.com;playerWidth=610;playerHeight=400;isShowIcon=true;clipId=6751492;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=Video%2520Player;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=fixed'></script><br /><a href="http://www.koamtv.com/category/164379/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6751492"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://media2.kshb.com//photo/2012/02/16/Katy_Perry_delivers_med0ebf2e1-8069-485c-b8f8-faf531f32dcb0000_20120216184513_640_480.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" /></a><br /><br />It feels so good to give back to Joplin after all they've been through (no... Katy Perry isn't paying me to shoot pictures - she just did the video - heehee).<br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />Dale<br /><br />P.S. On a non-related note, today is my birthday! I'm 32... isn't that crazy???

giving back Joplin Joplin tornado Joplin Prom Makeover!

Hey everybody! Today I finally get to share a secret that I've been keeping for months: We are helping make over the Joplin High School ...

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Carissa and Evan's Fayetteville Engagement Portrait Session!

Hey Friends!<br /><br />I recently had an engagement shoot with Carissa and Evan and they were so fun and so sweet! Carissa came with so many great ideas for pics and a super cute story on how they met! We started the shoot at the golf course where Evan tried to teach Carissa to golf. These two have known each other since they were kids and even dated when they were little! The shoot at the golf course was extra special because as kids Evan had tried to teach Carissa to play golf for their first Valentine's day! Too cute right?! Check out their engagement pics!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_001.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="cute fayetteville engagement portrait ideas" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_001.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_002.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="cute fayetteville engagement portrait ideas" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_002.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_003.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="cute fayetteville engagement portrait ideas" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_003.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_004.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="cute fayetteville engagement portrait ideas" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_004.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_005.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="cute fayetteville engagement portrait ideas" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_005.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_006.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="cute fayetteville engagement portrait ideas" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/1105_carissa/fayetteville_engagement_portraits_006.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px;" /></a><br /><br /><br />~ Lauren<br /><br /><a href="http://benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/bloglinelauren.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/bloglinelauren.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 100px;" /></a><br /><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><br /><script>(function(d, s, id) {<br /> var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];<br /> if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}<br /> js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;<br /> js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";<br /> fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);<br />}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><br /><div class="fb-like" data-href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2011/11/carissa-and-evans-fayetteville.html" data-send="true" data-width="450" data-show-faces="true"></div><div class="fb-comments" data-href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2011/11/carissa-and-evans-fayetteville.html" data-num-posts="2" data-width="820"></div>

engagement photos Fayetteville engagement portraits Fayetteville Wedding Photography Joplin Kansas City Plaza Lauren Carissa and Evan's Fayetteville Engagement Portrait Session!

Hey Friends! I recently had an engagement shoot with Carissa and Evan and they were so fun and so sweet! Carissa came with so many great ide...

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Ellie is in (and on) USA Today!

Hey everybody!<br /><br /><br /><br />When I was a journalism student I always heard that for every story we want to share news, but also try to share hope. Today as I read a story on the Joplin Tornado in <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-08-14-Joplin-tornado-schools-resume_n.htm?bctid=1105736067001">USA Today</a>, I was so honored that Ellie's perspective was what the reporter used as his piece of hope. I'm super proud of who Ellie is through all that has happened in the past few months. She has such a great big heart and a wonderful little brain. I quoted a bit from the story below, but click on the screen shot to head to the article and read it all for yourself. Grab tissues.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-08-14-Joplin-tornado-schools-resume_n.htm?bctid=1105736067001" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/usatoday.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 920px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">One early August morning found the 7-year-old at Washington, accompanying her mother to her new school. They made their way to a second-floor classroom, where Ellie — in mismatched flip flops, her red hair pulled into pigtails — soon walked to the chalkboard. She scrawled in a lower corner:<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Welcome<br /><br /><br /><br />Back!</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The little girl turned away momentarily, then turned back to the board and in two sweeps framed the words with a heart.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br /><br />Dale

Ellie Joplin Joplin tornado personal Ellie is in (and on) USA Today!

Hey everybody! When I was a journalism student I always heard that for every story we want to share news, but also try to share hope. Today...

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A Heaping Pile of Good News!

Hey everybody!<br /><br />There is so much I wanna say tonight! The last few days have been a filled great news. I thought I'd start a list...<br /><br />~~I got to take Ellie to see the President today. We spent a lot of time talking about what his message was, and what it meant for her hometown. (More in this in the earlier post) My favorite shots weren't of him inspiring and encouraging my hometown. My favorites shots were of him laughing with us, and hugging us. That's a president worth loving.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/joplin_tornado_obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="600" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/joplin_tornado_obama.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />~~My lovely wedding couple from Saturday's wedding posted this at their reception. Meredith and I were totally shocked by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Sullivant and Mattiza families. I'm humbled and honored to work with such amazing people and friends. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/redcrossBillie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="732" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/redcrossBillie.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />~~Remember the post for my grandma? Well, it has spread all over (you can see it in the Kansas City Star <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/27/2909576/glimpses-of-lives-lived-lost.html">here</a>), and has spread some GOOD! Two of our facebook friends held blood drives in their towns in Grandma's honor - CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? I haven't followed up with one of them yet, but I know that one of the drives had more than 150 people give! Speechless.<br />In other grandma-related news, they found her body (they misplaced her, sadly) and we have the services set. I'm so happy that prayers were answered and my mom and uncle, along with the rest of the family, will be able to have closure.<br /><br />~~Since I posted Clothes for Chloe, I've received emails from readers all over the US offering help. Some are sending clothes, some giftcards, some checks... all for Tom and Emily and Chloe. I am SO TOUCHED by all of your generosity. TO MELANIE, STEPHANIE, ANDREA, JAMIE, NANCY, and NICKI (sorry if I've left off names, it's late! :) - know that I appreciate you!) I know that the family will need a lot as they piece together their life after losing so much. <br />I got this from one reader... <br /><br />(reprinted with permission) "we did manage to run to wal mart and grab a few girlie things as well- hair accessories, some socks,<br />colored pencils, flavored chap-stick etc. my little one (alexandra age 8) is insistant about giving this little girl her notebook and a giga pet that are hers (she had used about two pages of the notebook but she bought it with her own money as well as the giga pet)~ although not new, it's from the heart and the meaning behind means more than if it was in a package still. lol..."<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/10Blog/0521_emily/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="533" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/10Blog/0521_emily/07.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />~~Finally, <a href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2011/05/prints-for-purpose-please-help.html">PRINTS FOR PURPOSE</a> is going well! I've personally received a couple hundred dollars in print orders that I'll be donating to the Joplin Red Cross. Furthermore, other photographers have posted it on their blogs as well (example <a href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2011/05/prints-for-purpose-please-help.html">here</a>, <a href="http://www.amandadonaho.com/sacrifice-prints-for-purpose/">here</a> and <a href="http://www.albumshowcase.net/blog/?p=2132">here</a>).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/PRINTS4PURPOSE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="500" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/PRINTS4PURPOSE.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><br />I feel so blessed to have loving friends and family, as well as loving and loyal blog readers. Even when life gets stinky... LIFE IS GOOD. LOVE Y'ALL!<br /><br />Stay Strong,<br />Dale

giving back Joplin Joplin tornado A Heaping Pile of Good News!

Hey everybody! There is so much I wanna say tonight! The last few days have been a filled great news. I thought I'd start a list... ~~I...

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Obama Delivers Hope to Joplin

Hey everybody,<br /><br />Eight days after Ellie performed a dance on the stage at Taylor Auditorium in Joplin (so much has changed), President Barack Obama delivered a passionate and poignant message to Joplinites: "Your country will be there every step of the way," Obama said. "The cameras may leave; the spotlight may shift. But we will be with you every step of the way."<br /><br />My favorite moment was when the President commented on heroes. "Heroes are all around us. They're in orange vests [speaking of the home depot employee who lost his life ushering others to safety], they take our orders, ..." and so on. It made me teary hearing again, as the President recounted them, the heroic stories I've heard all week.<br />I love this image because it conveys a feeling of hope. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/obama_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/obama_1.jpg" title=" Obama visits Joplin" width="800" /></a></div>And this image shows the President's passion as he promises the city of Joplin that the government will not forget about them in the weeks and months to come.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/obama_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img alt="Obama visits Joplin" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/obama_2.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />Stay strong,<br />Dale

Joplin Joplin tornado Obama Obama Delivers Hope to Joplin

Hey everybody, Eight days after Ellie performed a dance on the stage at Taylor Auditorium in Joplin (so much has changed), President Barack ...

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